Palmyra recaptured from ISIL

Syrian government forces backed by Russian air support drove ISIL militants out of the historic city of Palmyra after they seized the city last year and dynamited its ancient temples.

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A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows part of the remains of the Arc de Triomphe (Triumph Arc) monument that was destroyed by ISIL group jihadists in October 2015 in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from the ISIL group. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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Syrian troops walk in the destroyed streets of the residential neighbourhoods in the modern town adjacent to the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra after they recaptured the UNESCO site from ISIL group jihadists on March 27, 2016. Archaeologists were rushing to the ancient city of Palmyra on March 28, 2016 to assess the damage wreaked by the ISIL group, after it was ousted by the Syrian army in a bloody battle. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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Syrian troops walk in the destroyed streets of the residential neighbourhoods, backdropped by the citadel, in the modern town adjacent to the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra after they recaptured the UNESCO site from ISIL group jihadists on March 27, 2016. Archaeologists were rushing to the ancient city of Palmyra on March 28, 2016 to assess the damage wreaked by the ISIL group, after it was ousted by the Syrian army in a bloody battle. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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Caption:A picture taken on March 27, 2016, shows heavily damaged buildings in a residential neighbourhood of the modern town of Palmyra after Syrian troops recaptured the city from the ISIL group. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

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A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows part of the ancient city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from the ISIL group. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows the theatre in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from ISIL group jihadists on March 27, 2016. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows part of the remains of the Arc de Triomphe (Triumphe Arc) monument that was destroyed by ISIL group jihadists in October 2015 in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from the IS group on March 27, 2016. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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A general view shows the remains of the entrance to the iconic Temple of Bel that was destroyed by ISIL group jihadists in September 2015 in the ancient city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from the IS group on March 27, 2016. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)

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A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows part of the ancient city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from the ISIL group. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

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A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows part of the remains of the Arc de Triomphe (Triumph Arc) monument that was destroyed by ISIL group jihadists in October 2015 in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from the ISIL group. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. (STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

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Syrian pro-governement forces gesture next to the Palmyra citadel on March 26, 2016, during a military operation to retake the ancient city from the jihadist Islamic State (IS) group. (MAHER AL MOUNES/AFP/Getty Images)